About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 AWS Professional Program
|
| Symposium
|
2026 AWS Professional Program
|
| Presentation Title |
Experimental Efforts to Develop the Process and Operations of Laser Beam Welding in Space |
| Author(s) |
Andrew O'Connor, Emma Jaynes, Benjamin Rupp, Louse Littles, Brace White, Derrick Seubert, Alex Sowell, Emily Sheetz, Parker Shake, Raju Subedi, Jonathan Bonebrake, Thomas Bryan, Matthew Mahlin, Christopher Protz, Jennifer Jones, Jeffrey Sowards |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Andrew O'Connor |
| Abstract Scope |
In-space joining enables in-space manufacturing and repair of metallic structures such as those envisioned on the Lunar surface for NASA Moon Base. Compared to brazing or soldering, in-space welding (ISW) can provide hermetic, strong, and complex joints without necessarily requiring additional material. However, the influence of extreme temperatures, reduced pressure, and reduced gravity on ISW requires further study. Several experimental efforts at NASA are investigating laser beam welding (LBW) as a joining and repair method for use in space.
The Lunar Assembly and Servicing by Autonomous Robotics (LASAR) project led by NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) has demonstrated LBW in thermal vacuum (TVAC) and will soon attempt weld repair in TVAC. Previous TVAC testing campaigns have welded aluminum workpieces using a ruggedized laser weld head and positioning cameras mounted on a robotic arm; this occurred at cold and warm temperature with almost all components, save the laser generator, under vacuum. NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) is integrating perception and supervised autonomy for ISW in this project. NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) provides structural expertise to mature joints for ISW. An upcoming TVAC testing campaign will focus on weld inspection via a non-contact nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technique – electromagnetic acoustic transduction (EMAT) – and weld repair with filler wire.
While LASAR has advanced LBW operations in extreme temperatures and reduced pressure, the MSFC DISCMAN -- DIsk-Shaped Configurable and Modular vAcuum uNit – project is developing the process of LBW in reduced pressure and reduced gravity. The DISCMAN is an experimental payload that can provide a vacuum environment while in microgravity. This compact, reconfigurable payload is first being developed to perform LBW process development on the International Space Station (ISS), with parabolic flights anticipated as a stepping stone to orbital flight. The process data collected will inform future modeling efforts. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Undecided |